The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-17
King Goals Reign.

The history of King Coal, says the Pittsburg Commercial Gazette. is one of many fluctuations, It has not al- ways been the same easy going story as that of the other Kiag Cole, who called for his pipe and bowl and tid- dlers three. During the war times the price paid for the carboniferous treasure reached its highest point, Captain James Walton, one of Pitts burg's oldest coal dealers, who has been in the business since 1858, said that he had sold coal tor five cents & bushel and also for seventy cents a bushel. In the early days of the coal excitement the prices which coal com- manded in those regions were almost fabulous. It is said that in some few instances as much as one dollar per bushel was paid. This was before any mines or even "coal banks" were opened in this territory. The striking of new oil well was the foerunner by but few days of town. To run their engines 1t was necessary to have coal Wood was used as far as possi- ble, but with green wood and in we, weather 1t was very difficult to ac. complish much. These towns were very often some distance from any navigable stream, and just as often from any road that deserved the name of such.
 The matter of transportation was then the great question, and it's cost for short time made the cost oi every commodity, and especially Of coal, something that is almost beyond be- lief. These conditions never con- tinued long, and with the improve ment of the means of transportation and competition the prices were soon brought down to more reasonable fig ures. Captain Walton, in 1860 and 1861, shipped some coal into the oil country. He was about the only dealer in this vicinity who did. He was then in the transporting business, and had three small towboats on the Allegheny river, and was wont to send them up loaded with coal, and bring down frei4 4.ht on the return trip. This was before the Allegheny valley railroad was put through. But the highest price he ever received for coal In this section was forty cents, which on one trip he got at Tidioute. Thirty Ave cents per bushel was the ordinary price received during these times at oil City. The expenses of transportation were so great thai even this price did not leave as large q margin as might have been expected.
 The course of the river was wind ing, and only for il few months in the year was there water enough for any kind of navigation, and even then only in the smallest boats. In most cases the coal had to be transferred from the barges and hauled for ten or flf- teen miles before it reached its dcsti- nation. This condition of affairs only lasted about two seasons, after which 1t ceased to pay to send any coal there altogether. They began to open small mines at Catfish and all points where there was any demand for coal. The highest price at which he has ever sold coal was during the latter years of the war at New Orleans for %Nenty cehts pei DushVi. iAc '""h '" government contract for 100000 bushels at this price. The causes of the grest price was the difficulty in obtaining miners and the danger of transportation. It was almost im- possible to get men to work the bargcs, and when you did get them 1t was still greater task to keep them from dcserting.
 After the war prices rapidly dropped and have for many years huctaated between five and ten cents. During the last summer coal was sold for Eve cents. At the present time prices are better, but this does the dealers no good, because they have no coal to sell. There has been no water, and it is impossible to bring down coal.